Prosthesis state and feedback path based parameter management

Abstract

A method including obtaining data based on a current and/or anticipated future state of a hearing prosthesis and adjusting a set gain margin of the hearing prosthesis based on the current or anticipated future state of the hearing prosthesis.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 obtaining feedback data indicative of a changed feedback path of a hearing prosthesis used by a recipient; and 
 adjusting a parameter of the hearing prosthesis that changes a performance feature of the hearing prosthesis based on the obtained feedback data, wherein 
 the parameter is a feedback influenceable parameter, and 
 the method further includes, prior to the action of adjusting the feedback influenceable parameter, evaluating the obtained feedback data. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to the action of adjusting the feedback influenceable parameter, automatically generating a suggestion to adjust the feedback influenceable parameter base on the automatic evaluation of the obtained feedback data, wherein 
 the action of evaluating the obtained feedback data is executed automatically. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the parameter is at least one of:
 a speed at which changes to a feedback cancellation system of the hearing prosthesis are implemented as result of a learning feature of the system; or 
 an adaption time of a feedback cancellation algorithm of the hearing prosthesis. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the feedback path includes a portion extending through solid matter, which portion corresponds to the changed feedback path. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hearing prosthesis is a percutaneous bone conduction device, and the feedback data is indicative of a change in an interface of the percutaneous bone conduction device and the recipient. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of:
 the obtained feedback data is based on at least one of frequency responses or impulse responses of the hearing prosthesis; or 
 the obtained feedback data is indicative of at least one of temporally varying frequency responses or temporally varying impulse responses of the hearing prosthesis. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the parameter that is adjusted is a safety factor gain margin component of the hearing prosthesis. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hearing prosthesis includes a feedback cancellation system; 
 the method further comprises the hearing prosthesis evaluating real-time changes to filter coefficients of the feedback cancellation system over a period of time; and 
 the action of adjusting the parameter entails adjusting the feedback cancellation system based on the changes to the filter coefficients. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustment is in the form of real-time changes to filter coefficients of a filter of the hearing prosthesis. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the feedback data is data based on an adaptive part of a feedback cancellation system of the hearing prosthesis. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the feedback data is obtained automatically by the hearing prosthesis; and 
 the parameter is adjusted automatically by the hearing prosthesis. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the obtained feedback data is based on a state of a connection of a removable component of the hearing prosthesis to a recipient; and 
 the hearing prosthesis is a percutaneous bone conduction device, and the state of the connection of the hearing prosthesis corresponds to a releasable coupling of the percutaneous bone conduction device. 
 
     
     
       13. A device, comprising:
 an implantable hearing prosthesis configured to at least one of record data based on feedback of the hearing prosthesis or detect a change in a state of the hearing prosthesis, 
 
       wherein the implantable hearing prosthesis is one of a percutaneous bone conduction device or an implantable mechanical stimulator configured to be implanted beneath skin of the recipient. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a hearing prosthesis includes a system configured to be adjusted to vary a parameter that influences a hearing percept evoking output of the hearing prosthesis, wherein 
 the hearing prosthesis is configured to automatically adjust the system based on at least one of the recorded data or the detected change in state. 
 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the parameter is a set gain margin of the hearing prosthesis. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the hearing prosthesis comprises an adaptive feedback reduction system that includes filters having variable filter coefficients, wherein the hearing prosthesis is configured to vary the filter coefficients to adapt the feedback reduction system; and 
 the hearing prosthesis is configured to record data indicative of the variation in the filter coefficients due to the adaptation of the feedback reduction system. 
 
     
     
       17. A device, comprising:
 an implantable hearing prosthesis configured to at least one of record data based on feedback of the hearing prosthesis or detect a change in a state of the hearing prosthesis, wherein 
 the hearing prosthesis is configured to detect a change in a state of the hearing prosthesis, wherein the state of the hearing prosthesis is at least one of a state of a mechanical component establishing a connection of the hearing prosthesis to a recipient or a state of a surgical attachment of the hearing prosthesis to the recipient. 
 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the hearing prosthesis is configured to detect a change in a state of the hearing prosthesis; and 
 the state of the hearing prosthesis is a state of a feature setting of the hearing prosthesis. 
 
     
     
       19. The device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the implantable hearing prosthesis includes a component that is configured to be located at a location beneath skin of the recipient that is subject to vibrations produced by the hearing prosthesis that conducts those vibrations to tissue of the recipient to evoke a hearing percept. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hearing prosthesis is a percutaneous bone conduction device. 
 
     
     
       21. The device of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the implantable hearing prosthesis is a percutaneous bone conduction device.